Empowered Communities: Increasing the Role of Communities in Management and Conservation in Meru Betiri National Park

Abstract

Economic industrialization has an impact on human to more frequently in exploiting forests. During the colonial era, forest management rights were fully centralized to the state, people living around forests were considered a threat that would damage forest sustainability. This results in the community losing control of access to economic resources from the forest. This discrimination continued until the New Order regime came to power. The paradigm that marginalizes the community around the forest becomes a catalyst for the community to loot the forest. The purpose of this study is to identify threats to forest sustainability and provide alternative solutions to solve the problem. The research site is in the Meru Betiri National Park, a unique area that was targeted for forest looting during the early reform period. The research method uses literature studies and Participatory action research. Literature study is needed to analyze how the structure of forest tenure, and Participatory Action Research is carried out to provide appropriate action in providing solutions to problems that occur. The results showed that the source of the threat of forest destruction comes from the lack of community role in the management of the forest itself. Troubleshooting solutions are presented in this article.